constable
Constable (noun) means a police officer, especially one of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces. Example: “The constable took a statement from the witness.”
How to use constable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA police officer, especially a junior one, or (historically) an official in charge of a castle or local order.
Word forms
constabled past tense, constables plural, Constables plural, constables singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ took a statement from the witness.
Etymology
From Old French conestable, from Latin comes stabuli, literally "officer of the stables" — a title that gradually rose from stable-master to senior military and civic office.
Related words
Rhymes for constable
See all rhymes for constable →Frequently asked questions
What does “constable” mean?
The word “constable” means a police officer, especially one of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces. In plain terms, a police officer, especially a junior one, or (historically) an official in charge of a castle or local order.
How do you pronounce “constable”?
“Constable” is pronounced KUHNS-tuh-buhl (/ˈkɑnstəbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “constable” in a sentence?
Here is “constable” used in a sentence: “The constable took a statement from the witness.”
What is another word for “constable”?
Words with a similar meaning to “constable” include police officer.
What part of speech is “constable”?
“Constable” is a noun.
Where does the word “constable” come from?
The word “constable” comes from Latin. From Old French conestable, from Latin comes stabuli, literally "officer of the stables" — a title that gradually rose from stable-master to senior military and civic office.
Is “constable” a common word?
“Constable” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “constable” have?
“Constable” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a police officer, especially one of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces.
What is the difference between constable and police officer?
Constable is specifically the term for a police officer of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces, such as the United Kingdom, while police officer is a general term used across ranks and countries. Not every police officer is called a constable, but a constable is always a type of police officer.
Does constable always refer to a modern police rank?
No, constable has multiple senses: alongside its modern meaning of a junior police officer, it historically referred to a senior officer or castle warden in a medieval royal or noble household, and it can also mean an elected local official responsible for keeping order or serving legal documents at parish or municipal level. The specific meaning depends on the historical or regional context.
Is constable used in American English?
Constable is used in some parts of the United States, particularly at the local or municipal level for an elected official who serves legal documents or keeps order, but it is far more common in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries as the standard term for a junior police rank.